Tool holder



- 1 TOOL HOLDER v Filed June 14. 1968 Fl G 6 MENTOR i I CHARLES R. SCOTT-FENTON FIG.5 A BY W ATTORNEY United States Patent '0 US. Cl. 211--78 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to devices for the use of mechanics, householders, maintenance men and the like, for holding a plurality of tools and fastening elements such as nails and screws in a'compact receptacle and readily accessible. A principal feature of the invention is the manufacture from plastic of an essentially two-component tool holder which provides. a large plurality of pockets and slots in which-can be kept a great variety of tools and fastening members. The economy of plastic manufacture is utilized in the invention since by virtue of combining a pair of injection molded body members a very versatile device results.

Briefly, the structure of I the invention comprises a lower body member which is essentially a partitioned tray and an upper body member which is essentially a tool rack. The configuration of the upper body member is such that wings are provided that fit into certain pockets intermediate predetermined partitions of the lower body member thereby effecting a snugly locking assembly. The upper body member is provided with slots which register with respective partitions whereby the slots can straddle respective partitions when the upper body member is telescoped into the lower'body member to integrate the tray and tool rack.

A very important feature is the enclosing of tool points in the structure to prevent accidents and injuries and to protect against damage.

A detailed description of the invention now follows in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the lower body member or tray;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section and elevation taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the upper body member or tool rack;

FIGURE 4 is a section in vertical elevation on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3a is a fragmentary section in vertical elevation through 3a3a of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an exterior vertical view of the assembled tool holder; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the assembled tool holder.

Referring to the drawing the invention comprises a lower body member 10 which is in effect a partitioned plastic molded tray of circular configuration and having angularly spaced radial and secant partitions. For example, noting the lettered reference characters of FIG- URE l, the partitions A, D, E, H and I are substantially radial, whereas the partitions B, C, F, G, J and K are secants. It will be noted that the secant partitions occur in parallel pairs such as the pair B and C, the pair F and G, and the pair I and K. The partitions extend integrally from an inner hub or collar 14 to the periphery or outer wall 16 of the tray and are thus strongly secured in the molded arrangement.

Intermediate the radial partitions D and E there is a secant partition K while a secant partition L is intermedi- 3,489,289 Patented Jan. 13, 1970 "ice ate radical partitions H and I. Thus the space between the pairs of radial partitions is split into two pockets. The upper edge of the tray has a short lip 17 therearound for reinforcement and at the bottom surface of the tray there is provided a ring 20 for securing a rotary hearing such as 24by means of radial tabs 27. The construction which provides for the bearing 24 at the bottom of the tray is conventional in nature and need not be described in detail. It is customary to provide three tabs such as 27, apart, so designed that the bearing can be snapped into place in a hitherto known manner, being thus permanently locked at the bottom of the tray and permitting the tray to rest on the hearing so that it can be rotated for convenience in providing accessibility to tools or fasteners.

I Likewise, carried at the tray bottom are three hollow bosses such as 30 for receiving screws which pass therethrough to secure the upper body member, later described. The innermost area of the tray is provided with a hollow reinforcing sleeve 33 suitably connected by ribs 36 to the bottom surface of the tray whereby a rigid structure is effected, the sleeve 33 being in turn internally reinforced by a post 39 and ribs 42.

The entire structure thus far described is a completely integral injection molding (except for the separate hearing 24) and it will be appreciated that it provides a tray fully compartmented for holding an assortment of nails, screws, washers or small tools.

The upper body member 50 or tool rack is likewise a single integral plastic molding and comprises a main collar 54 surmounted by a collar 57 to which is secured a handle 60 in a conventional manner. The handle has a split end which grips in a sleeve 63 integrally molded in collar 57 and extending downward from the plateau 66 0f the collar. The assembly of the handle and the collar is known in the art and need not be further described and, of course, it will be understood that any suitable handle arrangement could be used including an integrally molded handle.

The collar 54 affords an annular plateau 69 as a horizontal junction area with collar 57. Extending radially from collar 54 are wings 70a, 70b and 700. These wings are molded integrally with the collar and it will be noted that the wings 70a and 70b have top platforms 73 which are slotted, being provided with a pair of apertures or slots such as 76 for holding tools which can be placed therein vertically. The wing 700 is provided with virtually open top such as the large opening 79. Such large opening contemplates accommodating very large tools or a multiplicity of tools.

The collar 54 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slits indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4 as A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, and K which correspond to respective partitions A through K and register therewith in angular spacing. Accordingly, the tool rack may be assembled onto the tray by aligning the slits with respective partitions and then pushing the tool rack down into the tray so that the wings interdigitate between the pairs of parallel partitions as indicated in FIGURE 1. Thus the wing 70a fits between the partitions I and K and it will be obvious from a phantom outline of the tool rack in FIGURE 1 that the other two wings fit between the other respective pairs of parallel partitions C and B and respective partitions.

The tool rack is provided with ears 83 to register with the screw receiving bosses 30 so that screws may he slid through the bosses and into the ears which are internally threaded to receive them. Thus the two body members are securely held together.

Referring to the plan view of FIGURE 3, as well as to the perspective of FIGURE 6, it will be noted that the various slots in the tool rack such as 76, 88, etc. are

of different shape so as to readily accommodate different types of tools such as screw drivers, pliers, hammers, and the like. The stepped arrangement of the tool rack permits convenient accommodation of different lengths of tools so that they are maintained in vertical position and thus conveniently accessible.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, it will be noted that the slot 92 in collar 57 has an integrally molded dependent skirt 95 and it will be appreciated that all slots have such a skirt reentrant into the respective collars to give elongated side support to tools in the slots so as to prevent them from tilting to a degree where they migh slide out of reach.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided a tool holder which can be easily carried while loaded with tools and fastenings and which is attractive in appearance as well as economical and rugged in construction, and which guards tool points against damage or causing accidents.

What is claimed is:

1. A tool holder comprising a plastic molded tray having a plurality of spaced partitions extending therein and having a centrally disposed hub and an outer wall, wherein said partitions are integrally molded therebetween; a tool rack comprising a collar having slits straddling respective partitions whereby said collar is disposed in said tray, and means for securing said tray and tool rack integrally with said collar rising vertically out of said tray and having aperture means for holding tools.

2. A tool holder as set forth in claim 1, including pairs of partitions wherein the partitions of each pair are arranged in generally parallel array intermediate said outer wall and said hub and integral therewith, and said tool rack having addition slits straddling said latter partitions.

3. A tool holder as set forth in claim 2, said tool rack having generally radial wings extending therefrom and disposed between respective pairs of parellel partitions.

4. A tool holder as set forth in claim 1, said tool rack being circular and comprising a plurality of wings integrally molded with said collar and extending radially therefrom and being disposed within said tray.

5. A tool holder as set forth in claim 4, including an additional collar on said tool rack superimposed on said first mentioned collar and an annular plateau extending radially intermediate said two collars and being provided with sockets for receiving tools.

6. In a tool holder as set forth in claim 5, said wings being provided with sockets for receiving tools and said additional collar having a top surface provided with sockets for receiving tools. Y

7. In a tool holder as set forth in claim 6, including a handle secured to said tool rack for carrying said tool holder.

8. In a tool holder as set forth in. claim 7, including a rotary bearing and said tray being disposed thereon.

9. In a tool holder as set forth in claim 1, said tool rack being circular and comprising a plurality of wings integrally molded withsaid collar and extending radially therefrom and being disposed withinsaid tray; including an additional collar on said tool rack superimposed on said first mentioned collar and an annular plateau extending radially intermediate said two collars and being provided with sockets for receiving tools; said Wings being provided with sockets for receiving tools and said additional collar having a top surface provided with sockets for receiving tools.

10. A tool holder as set forth in claim 1, said rack having tool receiving apertures and efiecting a guard enclosure for tools carried in said apertures.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 25,319 3/1896 Young 21l-60 D. 160,688 10/1950 Brock 21178 123,245 1/1872 Beals et a1. 21170 3,190,438 6/1965 Cain et a1. 206

JAMES A. LEPPINK, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 211-6 0 

